Voila Condo Delivery Guide: Does it come to your door?

TL;DR: Voila drivers actually come to your apartment door, not just the lobby. They use crates to carry everything in one trip. For seniors and people with mobility issues, they can arrange extra assistance. And their trucks are refrigerated, so your food stays cold if you’re a few minutes late answering.

Why are “Lobby Drops” a problem for condo residents?

Gig-economy drivers often leave groceries in the lobby due to time pressure, leading to warm food, melting ice cream, and potential theft.

You order groceries. You wait for the delivery window. Phone buzzes: “Delivered!”

You check the lobby. Your groceries are sitting on the floor next to the mailboxes. The milk’s getting warm. The ice cream’s becoming soup. And some random guy is definitely eyeing your bags.

Welcome to gig-economy grocery delivery.

This is standard with Instacart, DoorDash, UberEats, and most third-party services. Drivers are juggling multiple orders, double-parked outside, and absolutely not about to spend 10 minutes navigating your building’s elevator situation.

I lived on the 22nd floor for two years. Lost count of how many times I raced downstairs in flip-flops trying to rescue melting groceries. Got real old, real fast.

Does Voila deliver to the unit door or just the lobby?

Voila drivers are employees who are equipped with crate systems to deliver directly to your apartment door, unless your building specifically bans it.

Here’s what surprised me when I switched: Voila drivers bring groceries to your actual apartment door.

Not the lobby. Not the package room. Your door.

This isn’t luck or an unusually nice driver. It’s how the service works.

How they pull it off:

• Crate systems to carry everything (not juggling plastic bags)
• Drivers are employees, not rushed gig workers running three apps
• Door-to-door delivery is the expectation, not a bonus
• Your building codes and access info get saved in your account

Unless your building explicitly bans non-residents on residential floors (rare), Voila comes all the way up.

Why is door-to-door delivery critical for high-rise living?

It ensures temperature control until the moment you receive the food and provides accessibility for those who cannot easily carry heavy bags.

For Condo People

Security: Your $200 grocery order isn’t sitting unattended in a public lobby.

Temperature: Cold stuff stays cold until you physically receive it. Not until you notice the “delivered” notification 20 minutes later.

Convenience: No rushing downstairs. No hunting for a cart. No hauling bags up yourself.

Accessibility: If you have mobility issues, this is the difference between “usable service” and “completely impossible service.”

For High-Rise Residents

Same benefits, amplified. The higher you live, the more door delivery matters.

Nobody wants to make three elevator trips with grocery bags. Nobody wants ice cream melting while waiting for a slow elevator.

My mother-in-law lives on the 31st floor. She switched to Voila specifically because of this. Game changer for her.

How do you set up delivery instructions for success?

Use the delivery notes field to add buzzer codes, elevator locations, and specific instructions like “knock loudly” to ensure smooth service.

When you create your Voila account, you can add notes:

• Building access codes
• Intercom instructions
• Which entrance to use
• Elevator info
• Specific unit directions

Drivers actually read these. Good notes = smooth delivery.

The Crate System

Gig drivers carry plastic bags by hand. They can only manage a few trips. Bags tear. Stuff falls.

Voila uses stackable crates. One trip, everything secure. It’s basic logistics, but most delivery companies don’t bother.

One Honest Warning: Paper Bags

Voila uses paper bags, not plastic. Better for the environment. But heavy or wet items can cause tearing.

Fix: Keep a laundry basket or bin by your door. Transfer items immediately. Problem solved.

This is a real complaint I’ve seen. Minor, but worth knowing upfront.

How to set up grocery delivery for seniors or parents?

Create an account on their behalf with detailed delivery notes (e.g., “knock loudly”) and consider using customer service for phone orders if technology is a barrier.

This section is for adult children setting things up for aging parents. You’re probably the one reading this, not your mom.

The Problem

Your parent:

• Has trouble driving, or stopped entirely
• Can’t easily carry heavy grocery bags
• May have mobility issues
• Needs reliable, consistent service (not gig economy randomness)
• Wants to stay independent

The options all have issues. Taxis to grocery stores are expensive and exhausting. Family can’t always be available. Instacart quality is all over the place depending on who shows up.

I set Voila up for my dad after his knee surgery. He was stubborn about accepting help, but the “it’s just like regular delivery” framing worked.

Why Voila Works for Seniors

Employee drivers: Consistent service quality. Not a random stranger with unclear accountability each time.

Door delivery: Drivers can bring groceries inside if needed. Call customer service to arrange this.

Simple interface: Cleaner than most apps. Big buttons. Clear product images.

Phone support: If tech is a barrier, customer service can help place orders by phone.

Easy refunds: If produce is bad, they refund without argument. No photos required.

Setting It Up for a Parent

1. Create the account with their address (you can manage it remotely)
2. Add detailed delivery notes (“Please knock loudly, she’s hard of hearing” or “Ring bell, wait 2 minutes, she moves slowly”)
3. Set up payment (link your own credit card if needed)
4. Build a favorites list of their regular items
5. Consider the delivery pass to simplify recurring orders

Senior Discounts?

No advertised senior discount, but call customer service and ask. Worth trying, especially for fixed-income customers ordering regularly.

What accessibility features does Voila offer?

Voila offers door delivery for mobility issues, screen reader compatibility for visual impairments, and driver assistance for those who need bags brought inside.

Mobility Limitations

• Door delivery = no hauling: Bags come to you
• Driver assistance available: Note it in your account. Drivers can help bring bags inside.
• Refrigerated trucks: Immunocompromised folks don’t worry about food safety from lobby sitting

Visual Impairments

• App works with screen readers
• Phone ordering available through customer service

Cognitive Considerations

• “Order again” from previous orders = less decision fatigue
• Set substitution preferences once, they stick
• Predictable delivery windows, same process each time

Does Voila work if my condo has strict security rules?

Voila respects building policies; if security mandates lobby delivery, your food will still arrive cold thanks to their refrigerated trucks.

Some luxury condos have strict policies: no non-resident deliveries past the lobby.

If yours does, Voila follows the rules. They’re not fighting with security.

But this is rare. Most buildings allow grocery delivery to unit doors.

How to check: Ask your concierge. Specifically ask about “grocery delivery to unit door.” Most buildings accommodate this.

If you’re stuck with lobby: Voila still uses refrigerated trucks and crates. Your food arrives cold and organized. Better than gig drivers with warm trunks.

How does Voila compare to other delivery services?

Unlike Instacart and UberEats which prioritize speed and often default to lobby drops, Voila uses employee drivers paid to complete full door-to-door service.

The difference isn’t policy. It’s business model. Gig drivers are paid per delivery—faster means more money. Voila employees are paid hourly and expected to complete full service.

Can you return empty bottles with Voila?

Yes, in Quebec, Voila drivers will take your empty bottles for credit if you leave them in a labeled bag and add a note to your instructions.

If you’re in Quebec and drowning in empties, Voila takes them.

• Leave bottles in a labeled bag
• Add a note in delivery instructions
• Driver takes them, you get credited

Not available everywhere, but useful if bottle returns are a logistical nightmare for you.

Practical Tips

Schedule Smart

Pick windows when you’re definitely home. Door delivery means you want to answer.

Have Transfer Containers Ready

Paper bags + heavy items = risk. Basket or box at the door. Transfer immediately.

Keep Notes Updated

New intercom code? Building access changed? Update your account. Outdated notes = failed deliveries.

Tip If You Want

Unlike gig apps, Voila drivers don’t expect tips. If someone goes above and beyond—complicated building, helping inside—you can tip. But no baseline expectation. No judgment.

What should you know about Voila’s paper bags?

Voila uses paper bags which can tear with heavy or wet items, so it is smart to keep a laundry basket by the door for easy transfer.

One Honest Warning: Voila uses paper bags, not plastic. Better for the environment. But heavy or wet items can cause tearing.

Fix: Keep a laundry basket or bin by your door. Transfer items immediately. Problem solved.

This is a real complaint I’ve seen. Minor, but worth knowing upfront.

How to Get Our $20 Voila Referral Code

To get your $20 off, you need to follow a specific process (it’s not just a code you type in):

1. Click the referral link below.
2. Enter your email address on the Voila page.
3. Check your email for a unique code sent by Voila.
4. Paste that code at checkout.

Note: The discount applies to your first order of $100 or more.

If you’re setting this up for a parent, the referral discount makes the first order a no-brainer.

If you’re in a condo and tired of lobby scrambles, this lets you test whether door delivery actually works for your building.

The $20 basically covers delivery fees for months. Zero risk.

Save your back. Save your ice cream. Save your sanity.

Groceries should come to your door—not the other way around.

FAQ: Condo & Senior Delivery Questions

How do I get senior/mobility assistance?

Call Voila customer service (1-877-VOILA-CA) to add special accommodation notes to your account.

Will they bring groceries inside?

Standard is “to the door.” For inside delivery, request it through customer service if you have a disability or special need.

What if my building refuses entry?

Voila follows building rules. If security says lobby only, that’s where it goes. But their refrigerated trucks mean food stays cold, unlike orders sitting in a hot car trunk.